Bill Text: HI HB1282 | 2021 | Regular Session | Amended
Bill Title: Relating To The Transition Of The Oahu Regional Health Care System From The Hawaii Health Systems Corporation Into The Department Of Health.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 3-0)
Status: (Engrossed - Dead) 2021-04-06 - The committee on WAM deferred the measure. [HB1282 Detail]
Download: Hawaii-2021-HB1282-Amended.html
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HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES |
H.B. NO. |
1282 |
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THIRTY-FIRST LEGISLATURE, 2021 |
H.D. 2 |
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STATE OF HAWAII |
S.D. 1 |
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A BILL FOR AN ACT
RELATING TO THE TRANSITION OF THE OAHU REGIONAL HEALTH CARE SYSTEM FROM THE HAWAII HEALTH SYSTEMS CORPORATION INTO THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF HAWAII:
PART I
SECTION 1. The legislature finds that the Hawaii health systems corporation comprises five semi-autonomous health care regions within the State, including east Hawaii, west Hawaii, Kauai, Oahu, and Maui. The Maui region no longer operates any health care facilities.
The legislature further finds that the Oahu region is unique and distinguishable from the other regions due to the logistical complexities of the Oahu regional health care system facilities and the limited but crucial nature of the services these facilities, Leahi hospital and Maluhia, currently provide. Because the Oahu facilities almost exclusively serve long-term care and medicaid patients, groups traditionally underserved by private facilities because of the high cost of their care, the Oahu region's long-term care operations are run more as a safety-net social service and, compared to the other regions, have less opportunity for additional revenue generation.
While the need for long-term care beds on Oahu has decreased in recent years, a study completed by the department of business, economic development, and tourism has projected that the population aged sixty-five and older will grow by one hundred forty-eight per cent over the next twenty-five years. On Oahu, this translates to an estimated shortfall of eleven hundred long-term care beds in the next five to ten years alone. Thus, despite the costs of long-term care, it is vital that state facilities continue to operate to ensure that beds remain available for our aging population.
Similar to the Oahu region, the department of health operates the Hawaii state hospital, a facility that does not generate revenue but is nonetheless necessary to provide care and treatment for mentally ill patients in Hawaii. In recent years, the Hawaii state hospital has experienced a challenge in providing sufficient bed space for admitted patients. As of September 2019, two hundred twenty patients occupied beds at the Hawaii state hospital--well over the maximum capacity of two hundred two patients. To meet its needs, the Hawaii state hospital was also required to contract with Kahi Mohala, a privately-run facility, to care for an additional forty-six patients.
Beyond its responsibility for the Hawaii state hospital, the department of health has also been charged with addressing the significant gap in the behavioral health care system between acute psychiatric care facilities and low acuity residential treatment. Data collected in the State estimate that fifty-four per cent, or more than half, of all individuals experiencing a mental health crisis have needs that align better with services delivered within a subacute level of care facility rather than an emergency room.
The legislature also finds that Act 90, Session
Laws of Hawaii 2019, established the involuntary hospitalization task force and
Act 263, Session Laws of Hawaii 2019, established a working group to evaluate current
behavioral health care and related systems, including existing resources, systems
gaps, and identification of action steps that would be taken to improve the overall
system of care. The findings from these initiatives
highlight the need for a coordinated network of stabilization beds that will allow
triage, clinical assessment, and recommendation for the next level of care for those
struggling with substance use, mental health conditions, and homelessness.
The National Coalition for the Homeless has
found that sixty-four per cent of homeless individuals are dependent on alcohol
or other substances. The Oahu homeless point
in time count reported that 36.4 per cent of homeless single adults suffer from
some type of mental illness. The intersection
of homelessness and behavioral health conditions are a crisis in the State, which
contributes to the State having the second highest rate of homelessness in the nation.
Unfortunately, there is currently no coordinated
system of stabilization from the streets that assesses for and links to the next
level of clinical care.
The legislature additionally finds that the
current options for those needing stabilization from challenges related to substance
use, mental health, and homelessness are overburdened and inadequate, and emergency
facilities throughout the State have experienced substantial increases in psychiatric
emergency admissions, resulting in overcrowding and unsafe environments for patients
and medical staff.
The legislature also finds that comprehensive
crisis response and stabilization services are crucial elements of the continuum
of care. Reducing unnecessary transportation
to emergency departments and placing individuals in more suitable levels of care
will improve outcomes for patients, reduce inpatient hospital stays, and facilitate
access to other behavioral health services.
Subacute residential stabilization services have been a missing component of a comprehensive behavioral health continuum of care, which would bridge the gap between acute hospitalization and lower level residential and community resources. Many individuals who are transported to an emergency room for emergency examination and hospitalization are not acute enough in their illness to warrant psychiatric hospitalization. On the other hand, their symptomology is too acute for them to be admitted to a group home, shelter, or other existing low acuity residential program or, if they are admitted, they are often unsuccessful in those environments. More often than not, these individuals fail because they have not had time to stabilize in an environment where they can be closely monitored. This lack of post-acute care contributes to the poor outcomes of both acute behavioral health inpatient and community-based services because many individuals are not appropriate for either level, but fall somewhere in between.
The legislature further finds that state facilities
exist that have underutilized space that could accommodate these services with minimal
effort and adjustments and reduce certain burdens and barriers. Therefore, assertive efforts should be undertaken
to ensure the availability of these resources and to organize them in a way that
is beneficial to the State.
Through discussions with the Oahu region, it has been determined that some of the Oahu region's health care facilities, particularly Leahi hospital, are currently underutilized and have the potential to be re-purposed for other important health care and social service needs.
The legislature further finds that, while statutorily tied to the Hawaii health systems corporation, the Oahu region operates mostly autonomously and its functions and target population are unique from those of the other regional health care systems. As such, there is little need for the Oahu regional health care system to remain a part of the Hawaii health systems corporation. With proper planning and implementation, the Oahu regional health care system could be strategically assimilated into the department of health, and its facilities could be used, in addition to long-term care, to help alleviate the need for subacute residential mental health stabilization and other subacute care services.
The purpose of this Act is to:
(1) Commence the transfer of the Oahu regional health care system in its entirety from the Hawaii health systems corporation to the department of health, beginning with the transfer of the Oahu regional health care system's budget;
(2) Enable the Oahu regional health care system, department of health, Hawaii health systems corporation, and other state agencies to implement the processes and transactions required to effectuate the completion of the transition;
(3) Require the department of health to consult with the University of Hawaii regarding services provided at Leahi hospital and Maluhia, and allow University of Hawaii students to rotate through those facilities for training purposes;
(4) Authorize the department of health to pay rent to the University of Hawaii for the use of the Leahi hospital property at a rate and on terms to be negotiated between the department of health and the University of Hawaii;
(5) Clarify the rights, powers, and exemptions held by the Oahu regional health care system during the transition period and the rights, powers, and exemptions held by the inpatient services division of the department of health following completion of the transfer of the Oahu regional health care system;
(6) Appropriate moneys from the mental health and substance abuse special fund to expand and operate programs at Leahi hospital and Maluhia; and
(7) Authorize the issuance of general obligation bonds and appropriate the proceeds of the bonds for improvements at Leahi hospital and Maluhia.
PART II
SECTION 2. Section 323F-2, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by amending subsection (b) to read as follows:
"(b) The corporate organization shall be divided
into [five] four regional systems, as follows:
[(1) The Oahu regional health care system;
(2)] (1) The Kauai regional health care system;
[(3)] (2) The Maui regional health care system;
[(4)] (3) The east Hawaii regional health care system,
comprising the Puna district, north Hilo district, south Hilo district, Hamakua
district, and Kau district; and
[(5)] (4) The west Hawaii regional health care system,
comprising the north Kohala district, south Kohala district, north Kona district,
and south Kona district;
and shall be identified as regional
systems I, II, III, and IV, [and V,] respectively."
PART III
SECTION 3. Section 323F-3, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended to read as follows:
"§323F-3 Corporation board. (a) The corporation shall be governed by [an eighteen-member]
a fifteen-member board of directors that shall carry out the duties and
responsibilities of the corporation other than those duties and
responsibilities relating to the establishment of any captive insurance company
pursuant to section 323F-7(c)(20) and the operation thereof.
(b) The members of the corporation board shall be appointed as follows:
(1) The director of health as an ex officio, voting member;
(2) The [five] four
regional chief executive officers as ex officio, nonvoting members;
(3) Three members who reside in the county of Maui, two of whom shall be appointed by the Maui regional system board and one of whom shall be appointed by the governor, all of whom shall serve as voting members;
(4) Two members who
reside in the eastern section of the county of Hawaii, one of whom shall be
appointed by the East Hawaii regional system board and one of whom shall be
appointed by the governor, both of whom shall serve as voting members;
(5) Two members who reside in the western section of the county of Hawaii, one of whom shall be appointed by the West Hawaii regional system board and one of whom shall be appointed by the governor, both of whom shall serve as voting members;
(6) Two members who reside on the island of Kauai, one of whom shall be appointed by the Kauai regional system board and one of whom shall be appointed by the governor, both of whom shall serve as voting members;
[(7) Two members who
reside on the island of Oahu, one of whom shall be appointed by the Oahu
regional system board and one of whom shall be appointed by the governor, both
of whom shall serve as voting members;] and
[(8)] (7) One member who shall be appointed by the
governor and serve as an at-large voting member.
The appointed board members who
reside in the county of Maui, eastern section of the county of Hawaii, western
section of the county of Hawaii, and on the island of Kauai[, and on
the island of Oahu] shall each serve for a term of four years; provided that
the terms of the initial appointments of the members who are appointed by their
respective regional system boards shall be as follows: one of the initial members from the county of
Maui shall be appointed to serve a term of two years and the other member shall
be appointed to serve a term of four years; the initial member from East Hawaii
shall be appointed to serve a term of two years; the initial member from West
Hawaii shall be appointed to serve a term of four years; and the initial
member from the island of Kauai shall be appointed to serve a term of two years;
[and the initial member from the island of Oahu shall be appointed to serve
a term of four years;] and provided further that the terms of the initial
appointments of the members who are appointed by the governor shall be four
years. The
at-large member appointed by the governor shall serve a term of two years.
Any vacancy shall be filled in the same manner provided for the original appointments. The corporation board shall elect its own chair from among its members. Appointments to the corporation board shall be as representative as possible of the system's stakeholders as outlined in this subsection. The board member appointments shall strive to create a board that includes expertise in the fields of medicine, finance, health care administration, government affairs, human resources, and law.
(c) The selection, appointment, and confirmation of any nominee shall be based on ensuring that board members have diverse and beneficial perspectives and experiences and that they include, to the extent possible, representatives of the medical, business, management, law, finance, and health sectors, and patients or consumers. Members of the board shall serve without compensation but may be reimbursed for actual expenses, including travel expenses incurred in the performance of their duties.
(d) Any member of the board may be removed for cause by vote of a two-thirds majority of the board's members then in office. For purposes of this section, cause shall include without limitation:
(1) Malfeasance in office;
(2) Failure to attend regularly called meetings;
(3) Sentencing for conviction of a felony, to the extent allowed by section 831-2; or
(4) Any other cause that may render a member incapable or unfit to discharge the duties required under this chapter.
Filing nomination papers for elective office or appointment to elective office, or conviction of a felony consistent with section 831-3.1, shall automatically and immediately disqualify a board member from office.
SECTION 4. Section 323F-7.6, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended to read as follows:
"[[]§323F-7.6[]] Transition of Hawaii
health systems regional system or health facility to a new entity. (a) Notwithstanding any other law to the contrary,
including but not limited to section 27-1 and chapter 171, any of the regional systems
or individual facilities of the Hawaii health systems corporation is hereby
authorized to transition into a new legal entity in any form recognized under
the laws of the State, including but not limited to:
(1) A nonprofit corporation;
(2) A for-profit corporation;
(3) A municipal facility;
(4) A public benefit
corporation; [or]
(5) A division or branch under a state executive department; or
[(5)] (6) Any two or more of the entities in
paragraphs (1) through [(4).] (5).
A transition shall occur through the sale, lease, or
transfer of all or substantially all of the assets of the facility or regional
system, except for real property, which shall only be transferred by
lease[.]; provided that under a transfer that is effectuated pursuant
to paragraph (5), real property shall transfer in its then-existing state, whether
in lease, fee, or otherwise, to the executive department. Any transition shall comply with chapter
323D.
(b) A transition shall only occur upon approval of the appropriate regional system board in the case of a regional system or individual facility transition, or upon approval of the regional system boards and the corporation in the case of the transition of the entire corporation. Any transition shall be subject to legal review by the attorney general, who shall approve the transition if satisfied that the transition conforms to all applicable laws, subject to the review of the director of the department of budget and finance, who shall approve the transition if it conforms to all applicable financing procedures, and subject to the governor's approval. In addition, the transition shall be subject to the following terms and conditions:
(1) All proceeds from
the sale, lease, or transfer of assets shall be used for health care services
in the respective regional system or facility, except that real property shall only
be transferred by lease; provided that under a transfer that is effectuated pursuant
to subsection (a)(5), real property shall transfer in its then-existing state, whether
in lease, fee, or otherwise, to the executive department;
(2) Any and all liabilities of a regional system or facility transitioning into a new entity that were transferred to the Hawaii health systems corporation upon its creation by Act 262, Session Laws of Hawaii 1996, and all liabilities of the regional system or facility related to collective bargaining contracts negotiated by the State, shall become the responsibility of the State; and
(3) During the period of transition:
(A) The State shall continue to fund the provision of health care services provided for by the regional system or individual facility; and
(B) All applicable provisions of this chapter shall continue to apply.
Upon the completion of the transition of all the facilities in a regional system to a new entity, the regional system board for that regional system shall terminate; provided that if not all of a regional system's facilities are transitioned to a new entity, the existing regional system board shall not terminate but shall continue to retain jurisdiction over those facilities remaining in the regional system."
PART IV
SECTION 5. Chapter 321, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by adding a new part to be appropriately designated and to read as follows:
"Part . Leahi hospital and maluhia
§321- Authority of the department of health. The department of health may:
(1) Conduct long-term care and substance abuse treatment at Leahi hospital and Maluhia;
(2) Pay rent to the University of Hawaii for the use of the Leahi hospital property, at a rate and on terms to be negotiated between the department of health and the University of Hawaii;
(3) Use moneys from the mental health and substance abuse special fund established pursuant to section 334-15 to fund the department's operations at Leahi hospital and Maluhia;
(4) Develop and implement its own policies, procedures, and rules necessary or appropriate to plan, operate, manage, and control Leahi hospital and Maluhia without regard to chapter 91;
(5) Enter into and perform any contract, lease, cooperative agreement, partnership, or other transaction whatsoever that may be necessary or appropriate in the performance of its purposes and responsibilities, and on any terms the department may deem appropriate with either:
(A) Any agency or instrumentality of the United States, or with any state, territory, possession, or subdivision thereof; or
(B) Any person, firm, association, partnership, or corporation, whether operated on a for-profit or not-for-profit basis; provided that the transaction furthers the public interest;
(6) Conduct activities and enter into business relationships the department deems necessary or appropriate, including but not limited to:
(A) Creating nonprofit corporations, including but not limited to charitable fundraising foundations, to be controlled wholly by the department or jointly with others; and
(B) Entering into partnerships and other joint venture arrangements, or participating in alliances, purchasing consortia, health insurance pools, or other cooperative agreements with any public or private entity; provided that any corporation, venture, or relationship entered into under this section shall further the public interest;
(7) Make and alter facility bylaws and rules for the organization and management of Leahi hospital and Maluhia without regard to chapter 91;
(8) Contract for and accept any gifts, grants, and loans of funds or property, or any other aid in any form from the federal government, the State, any state agency, or any other source, or any combination thereof, and in compliance with the terms and conditions thereof;
(9) Provide health and medical services to the public directly or by agreement or lease with any person, firm, or private or public corporation, partnership, or association through or in Leahi hospital and Maluhia or otherwise; and
(10) Approve medical staff bylaws, rules, and medical staff appointments and reappointments for Leahi hospital and Maluhia, including but not limited to determining the conditions under which a health professional may be extended the privilege of practicing within Leahi hospital or Maluhia, as determined by the department or facility management, and adopting and implementing reasonable rules, without regard to chapter 91, for the credentialing and peer review of all persons and health professionals within the facility; provided that the department or facility management shall be the governing body responsible for all medical staff organization, peer review, and credentialing activities to the extent allowed by law.
§321- Consultation with the University of Hawaii required. The department of health shall regularly consult with the University of Hawaii regarding services provided at Leahi hospital and Maluhia. The department may coordinate with the University of Hawaii to allow university students to rotate through the facilities for training purposes and may take any action necessary or proper to effectuate this purpose.
§321- Reduction or elimination of direct patient care services. (a) No planned substantial reduction or elimination of direct patient care services at Leahi hospital or Maluhia shall be undertaken unless all of the following requirements are met:
(1) An initial determination is made by the department as to critical and emergency services, which shall not be subject to reduction or elimination pursuant to this section;
(2) The plan of the facility to substantially reduce or eliminate any direct patient care services at Leahi hospital or Maluhia shall first be presented to the director of health for approval;
(3) Subsequent to the requisite director approval, the department shall present the plan to the community in which the facility is located at a community informational meeting, in order to obtain community input on the plan; and
(4) After the community informational meeting, but at least twenty days prior to the implementation of the approved plan, the director shall give notice of the implementation of the plan to the governor, president of the senate, and speaker of the house of representatives.
(b) Upon meeting the requirements of subsection (a), the approved plan shall be implemented unless legislation has been enacted that:
(1) Requires the reinstatement and continuation of direct patient care services that are subject to reduction or elimination under the plan; and
(2) Includes an appropriation of additional moneys sufficient to adequately fund the mandated reinstatement and continuation of the direct patient care services that are subject to reduction or elimination under the plan."
PART V
SECTION 6. (a) The
transfer of the Oahu regional health care system to the department of health shall
commence with the transfer of the budget count associated with the Oahu region as
follows:
(1) On June 30, 2021, the budget of the Oahu regional health care system shall be transferred from the Hawaii health systems corporation to the department of health; provided that:
(A) The Oahu regional health care system's budget codes and all related allocated funds of the Oahu region shall be reflected in the state budget and all other related tables and documents under the program code HTH ; and
(B) The program code HTH shall be known as the inpatient services division within the department of health's behavioral health administration. The organizational structure of the Oahu regional health care system shall remain unchanged, unless modified and approved by the working group identified in this Act, and as approved by the conditions established in this part or as required by law; and
(2) On June 30, 2021, the working group established pursuant to this Act shall have the authority to begin transferring, at its discretion, the positions and class specifications of the Oahu regional health care system from the Hawaii health systems corporation's personnel system to the department of health; provided that:
(A) All employees of the Oahu regional health care system who are employed as of June 30, 2021, shall be transferred to the department of health before the transition of the Oahu regional health care system into the department of health is complete;
(B) All employees of the Oahu regional health care system who occupy civil service positions shall be transferred to the department of health by this Act and retain their civil service status, whether permanent or temporary, and shall maintain their respective functions as reflected in their current position descriptions during the transition period; provided that any changes determined necessary by the working group established pursuant to this Act shall follow standard union consultation process prior to implementation;
(C) Employees shall be transferred without loss of salary; seniority, except as prescribed by applicable collective bargaining agreements; retention points; prior service credit; any vacation and sick leave credits previously earned; and other rights, benefits, and privileges, in accordance with state employment laws;
(D) The personnel structure of the Oahu regional health care system shall remain unchanged, unless modified and approved by the working group and as approved by the conditions established pursuant to this Act;
(E) Any employee who, prior to this Act, is exempt from civil service or collective bargaining and is transferred as a consequence of this Act shall be transferred without loss of salary and shall not suffer any loss of prior service credit, contractual rights, vacation or sick leave credits previously earned, or other employee benefits or privileges, and, except in the instance of discipline, shall be entitled to remain employed in the employee's current position for a period of no less than one year after the transition of the Oahu regional health care system into the department of health is complete;
(F) The wages, hours, and other conditions of employment shall be negotiated or consulted, as applicable, with the respective exclusive representative of the affected employees, in accordance with chapter 89, Hawaii Revised Statutes; and
(G) The rights, benefits, and privileges currently enjoyed by employees, including those rights, benefits, and privileges under chapters 76, 78, 87A, 88, and 89, Hawaii Revised Statutes, shall not be impaired or diminished as a result of these employees being transitioned to the department of health pursuant to this Act. The transition to the department of health shall not result in any break in service for the affected employees. The rights, benefits, and privileges currently enjoyed by employees shall be maintained under their existing collective bargaining or other agreements and any successor agreement.
(b) Upon effectuation of subsection (a), the Oahu regional board shall, through the Oahu regional board chair, facilitate the transition of the Oahu region into the department of health as part of the working group established pursuant to this Act and effectuate the assignment of all contracts and agreements in which the Oahu region is a party to the department of health.
(c) Notwithstanding any law to the contrary, the terms of the following members of the board of directors of the Hawaii health systems corporation shall expire on June 30, 2021:
(1) The regional chief executive officer of the Oahu regional health care system; and
(2) The two board members residing on the island of Oahu appointed pursuant to section 323F-3(b)(7), Hawaii Revised Statutes, as that section read prior to the effective date of this Act.
SECTION 7. (a) During the transition period commencing on July 1, 2021, to and including the completion of the transition of the Oahu regional health care system into the department of health, the Oahu regional health care system board may:
(1) Develop and implement its own policies, procedures, and rules necessary or appropriate to plan, operate, manage, and control its facilities without regard to chapter 91, Hawaii Revised Statutes;
(2) Enter into and perform any contract, lease, cooperative agreement, partnership, or other transaction that may be necessary or appropriate in the performance of its purposes and responsibilities, and on terms the regional system board may deem appropriate with either:
(A) Any agency or instrumentality of the United States, or with any state, territory, possession, or subdivision thereof; or
(B) Any person, firm, association, partnership, or corporation, whether operated on a for-profit or not-for-profit basis; provided that the transaction furthers the public interest;
(3) Conduct activities and enter into business relationships the regional system board deems necessary or appropriate, including but not limited to:
(A) Creating nonprofit corporations, including but not limited to charitable fundraising foundations, to be controlled wholly by the regional system board or jointly with others;
(B) Establishing, subscribing to, and owning stock in business corporations individually or jointly with others; and
(C) Entering into partnerships and other joint venture arrangements, or participating in alliances, purchasing consortia, health insurance pools, or other cooperative agreements, with any public or private entity; provided that any corporation, venture, or relationship entered into under this subsection shall further the public interest;
(4) Execute, in accordance with all applicable bylaws, rules, and laws, all instruments necessary or appropriate in the exercise of any powers of the regional system board;
(5) Make and alter regional system board bylaws and rules for its organization and management without regard to chapter 91, Hawaii Revised Statutes;
(6) Enter into any contract or agreement, not inconsistent with the laws of the State, execute all instruments, and do all things necessary or appropriate in the exercise of the powers granted under chapter 323F, Hawaii Revised Statutes, including securing the payment of bonds; provided that contracts or agreements executed by the regional system board shall only encumber the regional subaccounts of the regional system board;
(7) Own, purchase, lease, exchange, or otherwise acquire property, whether real, personal, or mixed, tangible or intangible, and any interest therein, in the name of the regional system board; provided that the regional system board shall be subject to the requirements of section 323F-3.5, Hawaii Revised Statutes;
(8) Contract for and accept any gifts, grants, and loans of funds or property, or any other aid in any form from the federal government, the State, any state agency, or any other source, or any combination thereof, and in compliance, subject to chapter 323F, Hawaii Revised Statutes, with the terms and conditions thereof; provided that the regional system board shall be responsible for contracting for and accepting any gifts, grants, loans, property, or other aid if intended to exclusively benefit the Oahu region public health facilities and operations;
(9) Provide health and medical services to the public directly or by agreement or lease with any person, firm, or private or public corporation, partnership, or association through or in the health facilities of the regional system board or otherwise; provided that the regional system board shall be responsible for conducting the activities under this paragraph solely within the Oahu regional system;
(10) Approve medical staff bylaws, rules, and medical staff appointments and reappointments for all public health facilities of the regional system board, including but not limited to determining the conditions under which a health professional may be extended the privilege of practicing within a health facility, as determined by the regional system board, and adopting and implementing reasonable rules, without regard to chapter 91, Hawaii Revised Statutes, for the credentialing and peer review of all persons and health professionals within the facility; provided that the regional system board shall be the governing body responsible for all medical staff organization, peer review, and credentialing activities to the extent allowed by law;
(11) Enter into any agreement with the State, including but not limited to contracts for the provision of goods, services, and facilities for the support of the regional system board's programs, and contracting for the provision of services to or on behalf of the State;
(12) Develop internal policies and procedures for the procurement of goods and services, consistent with the goals of public accountability and public procurement practices, and subject to management and financial legislative audits; provided that the regional system board shall enjoy the exemption under section 103‑53(e) and chapter 103D, Hawaii Revised Statutes;
(13) Authorize, establish, and abolish positions; and
(14) Employ or retain any attorney, by contract or otherwise, for the purpose of representing the regional system board in any litigation, rendering legal counsel, or drafting legal documents for the regional system board.
(b) During the transition period commencing on July 1, 2021, to and including the completion of the transition of the Oahu regional health care system into the department of health, the Oahu regional system board shall continue enjoy the same sovereign immunity available to the State.
(c) During the transition period commencing on July 1, 2021, to and including the completion of the transition of the Oahu regional health care system into the department of health, the Oahu regional system board shall be exempt from chapters 36, 37, 38, 40, 41D, 103D, part I of chapter 92, and section 102-2, Hawaii Revised Statutes.
SECTION 8. For a period of two years following the completed transition of the Oahu regional health care system from the Hawaii health systems corporation to the department of health, the inpatient services division of the department of health shall be authorized to develop internal policies and procedures for the procurement of goods and services, consistent with the goals of public accountability and public procurement practices, subject to management and financial legislative audits; provided that the division shall enjoy the exemptions under section 103-53(e) and chapter 103D, Hawaii Revised Statutes.
SECTION 9. (a) There is established a working group to develop, evaluate, and implement any additional steps necessary to complete the transition of the Oahu regional health care system into the department of health.
(b) The working group shall consist of the following members:
(1) The director of health or the director's designee, who shall serve as co-chair and who, along with the chair of the Oahu regional system board or the chair's designee, shall have final authority over transfer activities to be implemented by the working group;
(2) The chair of the Oahu regional system board or the chair's designee, who shall serve as co‑chair and who, along with the director of health or the director's designee, shall have final authority over transfer activities to be implemented by the working group;
(3) The chief executive officer of the Oahu regional health care system or the chief executive officer's designee;
(4) One or more department of health staff members as deemed necessary by the director of health or the director's designee; and
(5) One or more Oahu regional health care system staff members as deemed necessary by the chief executive officer of the Oahu regional health care system or the chief executive officer's designee.
(c) In addition, the working group shall include the following members who shall serve in a consultative capacity:
(1) One representative from the behavioral health administration of the department of health;
(2) One representative from the department of human resources development;
(3) One representative from the department of accounting and general services;
(4) One representative from the department of the attorney general;
(5) One representative from the department of budget and finance;
(6) The chair of the Hawaii health systems corporation board or the chair's designee;
(7) One representative from the Hawaii health systems corporation human resources department;
(8) One representative from the Hawaii health systems corporation finance department;
(9) One representative from the state procurement office;
(10) One representative from the Hawaii Government Employees Association, who shall be invited to participate;
(11) One representative from United Public Workers, who shall be invited to participate; and
(12) Others as recommended and invited by the co-chairs.
(d) In
carrying out its purpose, the working group shall develop a transfer framework to
govern and manage the additional steps necessary to complete the transfer of the
Oahu regional health care system into the department of health. The transfer framework shall include but not be
limited to the following steps:
(1) Identification
and preparation of proposed legislation to address any matters not covered by this
Act that may be necessary to complete the transfer of the Oahu regional health care
system into the department of health;
(2) Identification of all real property, appropriations, records, equipment, machines, files, supplies, contracts, books, papers, documents, maps, and other property made, used, acquired, or held by the Oahu regional health care system to effectuate the transfer of the same to the department of health;
(3) Identification of all debts and other liabilities that will remain with the Hawaii health systems corporation and the remaining debts and liabilities to be transferred to the department of health;
(4) Identification of all contractual arrangements and obligations of the Oahu regional health care system, including but not limited to those related to personal service contracts, vendor contracts, and capital improvement projects;
(5) Development and implementation of any and all policies and procedures necessary to ensure that the facilities within the Oahu regional health care system remain compliant with all federal, state, and local laws and regulations; and
(6) Development and implementation of procedures to extricate the Oahu regional health care system from system-wide services secured or provided by the Hawaii health systems corporation or enable the Oahu regional health care system to continue to utilize those services on a temporary or permanent basis through interagency agreement.
(e) Members of the working group shall serve without compensation but shall be reimbursed for reasonable expenses necessary for the performance of their duties, including travel expenses. No member of the working group shall be subject to chapter 84, Hawaii Revised Statutes, solely because of the member's participation in the working group.
(f) The working group shall submit an interim report to the legislature no later than twenty days prior to the convening of the regular session of 2022 that outlines all components of the transition that have been effectuated to date and any legislative action needed to complete the transfer pursuant to this Act.
(g) The working group shall be dissolved on June 30, 2023, or upon completion of the transition of the Oahu regional health care system into the department of health, whichever is later. Prior to its dissolution, the working group shall submit a final report to the legislature that documents the completion of the transfer and dissolution of the Oahu regional health care system.
SECTION 10. All transition actions, with the exception of those covered under section 6(a) of this Act, shall be subject to the following conditions:
(1) The attorney general shall approve the legality and form of any material transition actions created by the working group prior to implementation, and the director of finance shall evaluate and approve any expenditure of public funds determined to be in accordance with the budget laws and controls in force; and
(2) Liabilities of the Oahu regional health care system that were transferred to the Hawaii health systems corporation upon its creation by Act 262, Session Laws of Hawaii 1996, or to the Oahu regional health care system upon its establishment by Act 290, Session Laws of Hawaii 2007, and all other contractual liabilities of the Oahu regional health care system, including those related to collective bargaining contracts negotiated by the State in existence at the time they are transferred to the department of health, shall become the responsibility of the State.
PART VI
SECTION 11. The director of finance is authorized to issue general obligation bonds in the sum of $ or so much thereof as may be necessary and the same sum or so much thereof as may be necessary is appropriated for fiscal year 2021-2022 for the purpose of making improvements to Leahi hospital and Maluhia.
SECTION 12. The appropriation made for the capital improvement project authorized by this part shall not lapse at the end of the fiscal biennium for which the appropriation is made; provided that all moneys from the appropriation unencumbered as of June 30, 2024, shall lapse as of that date.
PART VII
SECTION 13. There is appropriated out of the mental health and substance abuse special fund the sum of $ or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2021-2022 and the same sum or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2022-2023 for the operations of Leahi hospital and Maluhia.
The sums appropriated shall be expended by the department of health for the purposes of this Act.
PART VIII
SECTION 14. Statutory material to be repealed is bracketed and stricken. New statutory material is underscored.
SECTION 15. This Act shall take effect on July 1, 2050; provided that part II of this Act shall take effect on July 1, 2023, and parts VI and VII of this Act shall take effect on July 1, 2021.
Report Title:
HHSC; Oahu Region; DOH; Transition; Working Group; Appropriation
Description:
Commences the transfer of the Oahu regional health care system in its entirety from the Hawaii health systems corporation to the department of health, beginning with the transfer of the Oahu regional health care system's budget into the department of health. Enables the Oahu regional health care system, department of health, Hawaii health systems corporation, and other state agencies to manage and implement the processes required to effectuate the completion of the transition. Authorizes the department of health to conduct long-term care and substance abuse treatment at Leahi hospital and Maluhia and to pay rent for the use of the Leahi hospital property. Requires the department of health to consult with the university of Hawaii regarding programs at Leahi hospital and Maluhia. Clarifies the rights, powers, and exemptions of the Oahu regional system board during the transition period of the Oahu regional health care system into the department of health and the rights and powers of the department of health after the transition is completed. Appropriates monies from the mental health and substance abuse special fund. Authorizes the issuance of general obligation bonds. Part II effective 7/1/2023. Effective 7/1/2050. (SD1)
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